Seed Potato Grower of 2024
Top 10 Seed Potato Growers
It gives us great pleasure to announce the top ten seed potato growers. The top ten are displayed in alpha-numerical order as per the grower code.
B 054 | Circle-N-Estate
Rudi Heinlein
Baltimore, Limpopo
Performance on G0 to G7 material planted during the review:
- 304 hectares registered
- 253 261 x 25 kg bags certified
- 5 varieties planted
D 204 | Henbrie Boerdery
Wynand Human
Douglas, Northern Cape
Performance on G0 to G7 material planted during the review:
- 227 hectares registered
- 152 907 x 25 kg bags certified
- 4 varieties planted
L 002 | Firna (Edms) Bpk.
Frans Engelbrecht
Tosca, North West
Performance on G0 to G7 material planted during the review:
- 805 hectares registered
- 1 770 915 x 25 kg bags certified
- 64 varieties planted
L 026 | Carbrecht (Pty) Ltd.
Frans Engelbrecht, Patricia van der Westhuizen, Carel and Rob Carroll
Tosca, North West
Performance on G0 to G7 material planted during the review:
- 526 hectares registered
- 1 201 328 x 25 kg bags certified
- 15 varieties planted
N 029 | GA Vorster Farming (Pty) Ltd
Gary Vorster
Elliot, North-Eastern Cape
Performance on G0 to G7 material planted during the review:
- 510 hectares registered
- 373 084 x 25 kg bags certified
- 9 varieties planted
N 054 | D1 Farms (Pty) Ltd.
Ryan McDonald
Underberg, KwaZulu-Natal
Performance on G0 to G7 material planted during the review:
- 233 hectares registered
- 187 751 x 25 kg bags certified
- 5 varieties planted
W 001 | Agrivan Farming (Pty) Ltd.
Werner du Plessis
Christiana, North West
Performance on G0 to G7 material planted during the review:
- 1 997 hectares registered
- 1 227 334 x 25 kg bags certified
- 8 varieties planted
The Potato Certification Service (PCS or ASD) plays a crucial role in enabling growers to ensure a sustained supply of good quality planting material. Through certification of seed potatoes, planting material complies with the requirements of the South African Seed Potato Certification Scheme (Scheme).
However, it is these growers, the producers of this critical crop, who truly deserve commendation. With this in mind, it is time for the Bayer Top Seed Potato Grower of the Year Award.
The eligibility criteria for the award necessitate a consistent contribution, requiring seed potato growers to register a minimum of 30 hectares for three consecutive seasons during the period 1 July 2020 to 30 June 2023.
Grower performance is determined through analysis of data recorded by Certification Officials during the certification process, which plays a pivotal role in determining the Top Seed Potato Grower. All findings made by the Certification Officials are scrutinized against the tolerances outlined in the Scheme, and as such, each deviation counts.
All qualifying seed potato growers are ranked according to points earned, leading to the determination of the Top 10 and identification of the finalists. These growers serve as exemplary ambassadors for the seed potato industry.
Based on the outcome of the evaluation done by industry leaders during farm visits to the finalists, the Bayer Top Seed Potato Grower 2024 will be crowned. This announcement is scheduled to take place at the Seed Potato Growers’ Forum, to be held at Century City in Cape Town on 16 and 17 July 2024.
Bayer is al sedert 2005 die trotse borg van die Moerkweker van die Jaar-toekenning. Dit is vir ons ‘n geweldige voorreg om met hierdie gesogte toekenning geassosieer te wees en ‘n pad te kan stap met hierdie groep uitsoek-boere. Elke jaar bring sy eie geleenthede en uitdagings, en die terme van ‘n “goeie”, “slegte” of selfs “normale” jaar in die aartappelbedryf is nie regtig moontlik om met sekerheid te definieer nie.
Eksterne faktore sal altyd daar wees om die lewe interessant te hou – ons werk immers met ‘n biologiese sisteem met ‘n magdom veranderlikes wat meestal buite ons beheer is. Ons kan egter sekere faktore bestuur tot die beste van ons vermoë. In die aartappelbedryf sluit dit die keuse van insette soos aartappelmoere, toerusting, kunsmis en gewasbeskermingsprodukte in.
Bayer streef daarna om innoverende, nuttige, hoë-kwaliteit produkte na die bedryf te bring en so ons boere te help om tot hul volle potensiaal te presteer. Die kwaliteit en uitnemendheid van Suid-Afrikaanse Moerkwekers is vir ons by Bayer ‘n inspirasie, en belyn met ons maatskappy se voorste doelwit: “Science for a Better Life”. Ons sien uit om saam met hierdie industrie nuwe hoogtes te bereik!
Wilbri Vorster | Bayer Horticulture Go-to-Market Lead - Africa